The pro-democracy protestors in Iran are isolated and vulnerable. A strong turn-out here is a means for us to support them in their battle & remind governments & official international bodies around the world to act in the best interest of these freedom-fighters.Iran has ratified both the Declaration of Human Rights (signed 1948) and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (signed 1968). Let us show the world that human dignity and Human Rights are values that transcend frontiers, and that our leaders should use as much energy in defending Human Rights as they do the nuclear issue.

“A dictatorship is more dangerous than a nuclear weapon.”

Context

As a result of the fraudulent Iranian presidential elections of the 12th of June 2009, millions of people took to the streets of Iran to protest against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad; demanding a new and democratic election. These brave protestors, comprising all generations, demonstrated pacifically but faced harsh repression from government forces resulting in beatings, deaths, arrests, torture, forced confessions and mock show-trials. Despite this repression, the protest movement has continued to grow and is known as the ‘Green Movement’ (read below: ‘Why Green?’).In spite of this repression, the pro-democracy protestors in Iran have continued their mobilisation; taking to the streets, infiltrating official marches and finding new means to express themselves such as via the internet - despite the huge risks, including for their lives (two young men arrested before the elections,Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour, were executed on the 28thJanuary 2010, with more feared).

Why Green?

Green is the symbolic colour under which the pro-democracy protestors march in Iran - it is traditionally the colour of hope. Although the colour of the presidential candidate Mussavi in June’s fraudulent elections, the protestors have since made this colour their own and are commonly called the ‘Green Movement’, which has grown to become a spontaneous independent citizen’s movement demanding democracy for Iran. Green is now the colour of all those who march for democracy in Iran.

Tuesday, 9 February 2010

Iranian opposition in protest call

Al Jazeera - JANUARY 30, 2010

Iran's Revolutionary Guard says it will not allow the anniversary to transform into a protest [EPA]

Iran's key opposition figures have implicitly called for a public demonstration on February 11, the anniversary of the nation's Islamic revolution.

The call from Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karroubi, both defeated candidates in last year's presidential election, on Saturday came despite warnings from the Revolutionary Guard that such a protest would be crushed.

The two men, who have spearheaded recent anti-government demonstrations, met on Saturday and invited supporters to rally on anniversary day, according to Karroubi's website.

Both politicians also criticised Thursday's hanging of two dissidents, Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour.

The pair were accused of plotting to topple the government after Iran's election dispute broke out in June, and were allegedly members of the outlawed monarchist group Tondar and Mujahideen Khalq respectively.

Hangings 'to scare people'

Karroubi said the hangings were "to scare people so they do not take part in demonstrations".

"We will by no means allow anything known as the 'green movement' to make an appearance" on the anniversary"Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani, Revolutionary Guard commander

Mousavi and Karroubi agreed that the executed pair appeared to have been arrested months before the June 12 presidential election and had nothing to do with the post-poll violence.

The hangings were the first reported executions of people tried since a wave of protests that broke out following the re-election of Ahmadinejad to a second four-year term.

Iran's Revolutionary Court began the trial of 16 more people who took part in opposition protests last December on Saturday.

Five of the defendants face charges including "corrupting God's earth" and "waging war against the Islamic goverment".

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians march each year to mark the revolution which toppled the shah, but next month's event is expected to turn into another stage for anti-government protests.

Karroubi's Sahamnews website also said the two leaders had invited people to turn out in "massive numbers" on February 11 for the 31st anniversary of the revolution.

Protest warning

On Saturday, a senior commander of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards militia warned that any attempt by opposition groups to protest against the government on February 11 would be crushed.

"We will by no means allow anything known as the 'green movement' to make an appearance" on the anniversary, Brigadier General Hossein Hamedani was quoted as saying on ISNA news agency.

He said protesters would be considered as "foreign agents".

"Any voice, colour and gesture which is different from that of the Islamic revolution and from Iranians' voice should be driven out of people's marches ... and if there a few people who want to do something, they will be severely dealt with," he said.

Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former president and opposition supporter, meanwhile, urged people to maintain calm on the anniversary day.

"Those who love Iran ... should try that this year's march be held calmly ... because any conflict and violence will serve the interests of enemies," Rafsanjani was quoted on state television's website.

The anti-government protests which erupted after president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election have shaken the pillars of Iran's establishment and divided the clergy.

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One aim: unite the world’s citizens of all races, nationalities and horizons who believe in democracy and Human Rights, and who wish to express their support for the pro-democracy movement in Iran.
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